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Charles has always been a light sleeper, so when he stirs in the middle of the night, any number of things could have woken him… Although when Micah whimpers, the noise stabbing Charles in the heart, he realizes what woke him. And despite being half asleep, Charles knows what’s happening: Micah is having a nightmare.
They’ve only shared a tent for a week, but Micah has already suffered two nightmares with Charles beside him and Charles recognizes the twitching and groaning that happens, so Charles is certain Micah is having a nightmare. Unable to just lay here and watch, he shifts closer to Micah, needing to wake him. Charles doesn’t touch him, not wanting to make Micah panic, so he instead whispers, “Micah? Mikey…”
And, finally, Micah awakes. Flinching hard, he sits up on the bedroll, wrapping his arms around himself and hunching forwards. Charles can’t see more than Micah’s silhouette in the darkness, but he pictures a look of embarrassment and terror on Micah’s face.
“Micah, it’s okay,” Charles says, voice soft. “Calm down…”
Micah’s head snaps towards him, and Micah lets out an awkward, shaky laugh. “Wh-What’re you talkin’ about, Charlie? I’m perfectly calm. Never felt better.”
Charles squints at him through the darkness, unable to believe how stubborn Micah can be. Even as he pants for breath, Micah denies that he feels like shit. Shifting on the bedroll, Charles moves closer to Micah.
“Can I touch your back?” Charles asks.
Shivering despite the comfortable temperature inside the tent, Micah mumbles, “Why?”
“I just want to touch you.”
Micah shrugs a shoulder. “Go for it.”
Reaching out a hand, Charles places it on Micah’s back, rubbing gentle circles. “You were having a nightmare, weren’t you?”
He expects Micah to deny it, but Micah surprises Charles by nodding his head. Sighing heavily, Micah mutters, “Yeeeeeeah. This is why I don’t sleep. Can’t get nightmares if I don’t sleep.”
Charles keeps rubbing his back, remembering that Micah once explained he isn’t an insomniac, and instead forces himself to stay awake to avoid the nightmares. But since starting their relationship, Micah has begun to sleep more, mostly to spend the night curled up with Charles (often after sex, but sometimes just because he wants attention). And that means… more nightmares.
“Was it the same one?”
“Always is,” Micah says, wheezing for breath. “Can’t escape him. I just close my eyes and then I’m back there and, and…”
“It’s okay,” Charles whispers, leaning close enough to press a soft, soothing kiss to Micah’s cheek. “You don’t need to talk about it.”
After all, Micah told Charles all about the incident that haunts his nightmares just last week, and Charles learned that the last time Micah got sweet on a man, the man tried to beat Micah to death for liking men.
“Christ, I’m pathetic…”
“No, you’re not,” Charles says, kissing him again. “You’re strong. And I love you.”
“Dunno why,” Micah says, chuckling weakly. “But… guess I sorta love you too, Charlie.”